Why does Holden fear adulthood?

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Why does Holden fear adulthood?

The novel catcher in the rye is set in the 1950’s and is narrated by a

young boy called Holden Caulfield who is sixteen years old. He tells

the story between the end of his school term and Christmas break. We

know he is in a mental hospital and is telling the story of a few days

he spent in New York city, he shares his feelings, emotions and

opinions against the world surrounding him.

Holden Caulfield, he is a person who feels the need to be in control

of everything in his life, but the problem comes when he finds himself

in the transition between childhood and adulthood. Holden wants and

tries to act like an adult, but is unable to accept the fact he is

becoming one, perhaps because of his association of adulthood with

phonies and all he hates. By being in the stage where he is, he

manages to avoid change, control his world with his own hands, yet

creates a paradox between what he is, and what he wants to be.

Possibly the main reason to why Holden doesn’t want to become an adult

is his perception of ”phoniness” and hypocrisy surrounding adult

society. Holden shows his criticism towards most of the grownups who

intervene in his life, specially those related to his schools. We can

take Ossenburger as an example, he represents everything Holden hates,

wealthy famous character who for Holden only gives phony speeches on

how to live life.

“He said he talked to Jesus all the time. Even when he was driving his

car. That killed me, I can just see the big phony bastard shifting

into first gear and asking Jesus to send him a few more stiffs” (Pg

17).

This is just one of many examples Holden sees as fake. Phoniness is

his main concern against society. Holden lacks the capa...

... middle of paper ...

...and wanted to be an adult.

Holden fears becoming an adult in mind and heart, but wants to become

one in his actions. He wants to be safe but take chances. It’s a

battle between childhood and adulthood, between innocence and

phoniness. This battle is what has made Holden’s world an illusion,

what has made him a madman. Holden fears landing form his illusion,

becoming what he despises, knowing his protection is lost and knowing

he is vulnerable to the world. What we see in Holden is probably not

uncommon at all, he wishes to be a child at mind where it satisfies

him internally but an adult in his actions, just like everyone, they

get the side of the situation which satisfies them most. We never see

what Holden becomes, but we see how his paradoxical way of acting and

thinking is just a reflection of his fear of taking the full step into

the adult society.

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